Newsletter

Ballots for the upcoming school bond and levy election were mailed on Friday, January 23rd. Over the past several weeks, the district has been out in the community sharing information and answering questions about these two important measures. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to learn more and engage in the conversation.

We encourage every eligible voter to take a moment to review their ballot and participate in this important decision for our schools and community.

Virtual Community Forum

The district will host a virtual community forum on January 28 at 6:00 p.m. The forum will include an overview of the bond and levy proposals, followed by time for questions and discussion. If you have any questions that you would like to submit for the community forum you can follow the link HERE and enter your questions.

The Zoom link and additional information about the forum can be found here:

https://www.wsvsd.org/o/wsvsd/page/bond-levy

Important Voting Reminder

A new Washington state law requires that ballots be postmarked by February 10 in order to be counted. Because mail dropped off locally is sent to Portland before being postmarked, delays can occur.

The most reliable way to ensure your vote is counted is to vote early and use one of the local ballot drop boxes:

White Salmon: Near the Post Office and Pioneer Center
Bingen: In front of Bingen City Hall
Underwood: Parking lot of the Underwood Community Center

Why This Bond Matters

The timeline below highlights just how significant this proposal is for our community. It has been nearly four decades since we made a major investment in school facilities. Many of our buildings were designed for a very different era and no longer fully meet the needs of today’s students.

This proposal is the result of a community driven process that has unfolded over multiple years, shaped by input from families, staff, students, and community members. It represents a long term investment in the future of the White Salmon Valley, maximizing state construction assistance funding, and ensures our schools remain safe, functional, and equipped to support high quality learning and community needs for decades to come.

Why This Levy Matters

The EP&O levy is not a new tax. It is a renewal of existing local funding that expires in 2026 and provides about 16 percent of the district’s annual budget. Levy dollars help fund programs and services the state does not fully cover, including teachers and support staff, student programs like athletics and music, updated curriculum and materials, student nutrition, and counseling and wellness support. In short, the levy helps ensure our schools can continue to offer the programs, staffing, and services that families expect and students need.

Math Adoption Update

The District Math Adoption Team has selected the math program finalists that teachers are going to be piloting this winter and spring. The piloting teachers are Tiffany Denny (K), Katie Koch (K), Jennifer Davis (K), Sarah Owens (2nd), Ericka Miller (4th), Shelley Wilson (4th), LIndsey Tibke (5th), Josh Padgett (7th), Phoebe Kruchoski + Cassie Smith (8th), and Chad Myers (Geometry). If your student is in one of those classes the school work and homework might look a little different than usual. We will have opportunities for parents to check out the materials and provide input on the finalists soon. In the meantime check out the websites below.

Here is the list of finalists with links to the websites for more information.

K-4th grade finalist Amplify (piloting in the winter ‘26)

K-5 finalist Bridges (piloting in the spring ‘26)

5-8 finalist MidSchool Math (piloting in the winter ‘26)

5-12 finalist Carnegie Learning (piloting in the spring ‘26)
9-12 finalist Open Up Math (piloting in the winter ‘26)this link:

Supporting Attendance This Winter

We love having your student at school! Being present each day helps students stay connected, confident, and on track with learning.

As winter brings snow, rain, and seasonal illnesses, we know getting to school can be harder. While some absences are unavoidable, even excused absences can disrupt learning and connection.

Here are a few ways to support attendance this winter:

Make a backup plan for getting your child to school if needed.
Check with your child’s school nurse if you’re unsure about sending them to school.
Watch for signs of stress or anxiety and reach out to your child’s teacher, counselor, or nurse for support.
Encourage healthy habits like handwashing, good sleep, nutritious meals, and warm clothing.
If your child is out for more than a day or two, contact the teacher for learning materials.

If you need help with winter clothing or other resources, please call the school at 509-493-1560.

Thank you for partnering with us—showing up matters, even in winter!

School Calendar

We have extra “snow days” built into our calendar just in case we miss school because of weather.

February 23 is a built-in snow day.

If we DO NOT have a snow day on or before February 13:

February 23 becomes a NO-SCHOOL day.

If we DO have a snow day during the week of February 16–20:

February 23 is STILL a NO-SCHOOL day.
The missed school day will be made up later on March 27 (our next built-in snow day).

You can find the 2025-26 school calendar by following the link: 2025-26 School Calendar

Real-World Learning in Action!

We’re so grateful to Washington DNR for spending time with our White Salmon Academy and 9th grade Earth Science students last week! Students explored careers in wildland firefighting and natural resource management, then got hands-on experience conducting fuels transect activities right here on our school property.

Our students learned to identify different fuel types and make science-based recommendations for fire mitigation and prevention - skills that matter in our community. This kind of relevant learning is exactly what we aim to provide for students.

Thank you to the DNR team for sharing your expertise and inspiring the next generation! 🌲🔥

White Salmon Valley School District

www.wsvsd.org

The White Salmon Valley School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Title IX Coordinator: Craig McKee, Principal, PO BOX 157; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number: 509-493-1500 Email: craig.mckee@whitesalmonschools.org

Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Craig McKee, Principal PO BOX 1339; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number. 509-493-1970 Email: craig.mckee@whitesalmonschools.org

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Rich Polkinghorn, Superintendent PO BOX 157; White Salmon WA 98672 Telephone Number: 509-493-1500 Email: rich.polkinghorn@whitesalmonschools.org